21/02/2015
Britain’s Jordanne Whiley won her first singles title of 2015 as she claimed the ITF 2 USN Arena Bolton Indoor women’s singles title with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 win over fellow Briton Louise Hunt.
Whiley, who in January won her fifth consecutive Grand Slam doubles title at the Australian Open with Japanese partner Yui Kamiji, came through a tough battle against British No.2 Lucy Shuker in the semi-finals on Friday, but was always in control during the final against Hunt.
There was further success for Whiley as she also added the women’s doubles title to her singles crown. Partnering her 2012 Paralympic bronze medal winning partner Lucy Shuker, they defeated Louise Hunt and German Katharina Kruger 6-2, 6-2.
The British success continued as World No.3 Gordon Reid successfully defended his men’s singles title from 2014, beating Sweden’s Stefan Olsson in the final to clinch the title. Reid took a tight first set 7-5, and then powered away in the second, clinching the win 7-5, 6-1.
However unlike Whiley, Reid was unable to do the double, as he and fellow Brit Dave Phillipson lost the men’s doubles final 6-2, 6-1 to Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz and Sweden’s Steffan Olsson. It was revenge for Jeremiasz who had lost to Reid in the singles semi-finals on Friday, and for Olsson who had lost to Reid in the singles final.
Unfortunatley a British clean sweep of singles titles was not to be as Sweden's Anders Hard defeated Andy Lapthorne in the quad singles final over three marathon sets, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4). The quad singles title capped a successful week for Hard, who had won the quad doubles title on Friday when he teamed up with Israel’s Boaz Kramer to defeat the all British pairing of Lapthorne and Antony Cotterill 1-6, 7-5, (11-9).
20/02/15
Top seed Gordon Reid stormed through to the men's final at the ITF2 USN Bolton Arena Indoor today after an impressive straight sets victory over Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz.
The British world No.3 booked his place with a 6-1, 6-1 win over former world No.1 Jeremiasz, but won't be joined in tomorrow's final by fellow Brit Marc McCarroll after the world No.11, who turned 30 yesterday, lost out to Sweden's Stefan Olsson 6-3, 6-1.
Olsson and Reid will also be on opposite sides of the net in tomorrow's men's doubles final with Reid and David Phillipson winning 12 straight games 6-0, 6-0 against Austrian Martin Legner and Rody de Bie from the Netherlands. Olsson booked his place pairing up with Jeremiasz as they defeated McCarroll and British junior world No.1 Alfie Hewett.
Meanwhile, top seed Andy Lapthorne ensured there would also be a Brit in the quad final as he recovered from a close opening set to defeat Israel's Haim Lev 7-6(5), 6-0. But compatriot Antony Cotterill had a tougher time of it as he lost out to Sweden's Anders Hard 6-2, 6-0 to defy the seedings and end hopes of an all-British final.
The British pair then teamed up for the quad doubles final but were edged out in a nail-biting match tie-break as Hard and Israel's Boaz Kramer took the title 1-6, 7-5, (11-9).
It was a lot closer in the women's semi-final featuring world No.5 Jordanne Whiley as she was taken all the way by fellow London 2012 doubles bronze medallist Lucy Shuker before coming through 6-7(1), 6-0, 7-6(3).
Five-time Grand Slam doubles champion Whiley will play ParalympicsGB teammate Louise Hunt after the British No.3 made quick work of defeating Pauline Helouin 6-1, 6-1.
Hunt will face Whiley twice tomorrow as the world No.17 teamed up with Germany's Katharina Kruger to overcome rising British star 14-year-old Luz Esperanza Merry and Dutchwoman Diede De Groot 6-3, 6-1.
The duo will play Whiley and Shuker after they were awarded a walkover into the final following the withdrawal of Helouin and Frenchwoman Christine Schoenn.
Play begins at 9am with the men's and women's finals both on court and entry free to spectators.
19/02/15
British players continued their good form at the USN Bolton Arena Indoor tournament with five players booking their place in the singles semi-finals.
Top seed Jordanne Whiley will play fellow Brit Lucy Shuker for a place in the women's final, whilst in the other women's semi-final Louise Hunt will aim to make it an all-British final as she faces Pauline Helouin having eased past Emilie Chene 6-1, 6-1.
Whiley continued her excellent form, booking her place in the semi-finals with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Macarena Cabrillana.
In the men's semi-finals Gordon Reid will play former World No. 1 Michael Jeremiasz, after beating Martin Legner 6-0, 6-1.
Second seed Marc McCarroll came through a tight three set match against Daniel Caverzaschi 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, and will play Stefan Olsson, who beat Britain's Alfie Hewett in the quarter-finals for a place in Saturday's final.
The quad semi-finals were decided on Wednesday, with Andy Lapthorne facing Haim Lev on Friday for a place in the final and Anthony Cotterill playing Anders Hard in the other semi-final.
There was further British success in the doubles with British pair Gordon Reid and Dave Phillipson cruising past Ed Holt and Pim Palmen 6-0, 6-0 to book their semi-final spot. Reid and Phillipson will play Rody De Bie and Martin Legner, whislt the other men's semi-final also contains British interest as McCarroll and Hewett face Jeremiasz and Olsson.
Defending champions Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker are through to the women's doubles semi-final where they will play Pauline Helouin and Christine Schoenn. In the other semi-final Diede De Groot and British junior Luz Esperanza Merry will do battle with Briton Louise Hunt and Katharina Kruger.
Andy Lapthorne will be going for the double as he pairs up with fellow Brit Antony Cotterill in the quad doubles final where they will face Anders Hard and Boaz Kramer.
18/02/15
Top seeds Gordon Reid, Andy Lapthorne and Jordanne Whiley all made comfortable starts to their USN Bolton Arena Indoors campaigns on the second day of play, but seeded players went out of both the men’s singles and the quad singles.
Reid opened his men’s title defence with a 6-1, 6-2 win over fellow Brit Ed Holt ahead of playing Austrian seventh seed Martin Legner in the quarter-finals on Thursday. There was also a 6-2, 6-4 win for second seed Marc McCarroll against David Dalmasso of France, McCarroll now plays Spain's Daniel Caverzaschi, who defeated French eighth seed Thomas Vinatier 6-1, 6-3, while third seed Alfie Hewett dropped just one game en route to setting up a quarter-final against third seed Stefan Olsson of Sweden.
The remaining men’s quarter-final will be between two unseeded players after former world No. 1 Michael Jeremiasz of France avenged his North West Challenge semi-final loss to David Phillipson when defeating last week’s Preston champion and fourth seed 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Israel’s Adam Berdichevsky ensured there would be no all-French quarter-final after be knocked out French sixth seed Yoann Quilliou.
Three of four seeds will line-up in the quad singles semi-finals. Top seed Andy Lapthorne eased past fellow Brit Richard Green 6-0, 6-2, but Italian third seed Antonio Raffaele of Italy bowed out to Israel’s Haim Lev 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. Lev will play Lapthorne on Friday for a place in the final.
Second seed Antony Cotterill came through a tough opening match against Israel’s Boaz Kramer 6-3, 7-6(4) to double the British interest in the quad semi-finals. Cotterill now meets Swedish fourth seed Anders Hard after Hard’s 6-4, 6-3 in over Brit James Shaw.
There will be three Brits in Friday’s women’s singles semi-finals, with Whiley and Lucy Shuker ensuring there will be at least one Brit in Saturday’s final. World No. 5 Whiley eased past Chile’s Macarena Cabrillana 6-0, 6-0 to set up a rematch of her 2014 Bolton semi-final against world No. 10 Shuker. Shuker, the runner-up in Bolton last year, won her quarter-final against Russia’s Polina Shakirova 6-2, 6-0.
British No. 3 Louise Hunt was also in fine form, winning her quarter-final against Emile Chene of France 6-1, 6-0. But Pauline Helouin ended Luz Esperanza Merry’s hopes of making it an all-British semi-final line up and earning a second win over a seeded player in successive days when the French seventh seed clinched a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory to earn a semi-final against Hunt.
17/02/15
Luz Esperanza Merry produced the outstanding result on the first day of the USN Bolton Arena Indoor after beating German second seed and world No. 8 Katharina Kruger 6-4, 6-3 to reach the women’s singles quarter-finals. Fourteen-year-old world No. 2 junior Merry’s first career win over a senior world top 10 ranked opponent – her second win on the opening day of play - booked her a place in the last eight against French seventh seed Pauline Helouin.
Merry joins seeded fellow Brits Jordanne Whiley, Lucy Shuker and Louise Hunt in the quarter-finals. Shuker, the 2014 runner-up in Bolton, defeated Diede de Groot of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-1 to end de Groot’s hopes of back-to-back titles after she won the North West Challenge over the weekend. Hunt and Whiley both eased through their opening matches against Deena Webster and Frenchwoman Christine Schoenn. Aside from Kruger, the other seven seeds all line up in the quarter-finals.
In the men’s singles Ed Holt beat Hungary’s Roland Nemeth 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to set up an all-British second round match against top seed and defending champion Gordon Reid. Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Michael Jeremiasz of France was among the other players to progress after defeating Paul Stewart 6-0, 6-2 to set up a rematch of his semi-final last weekend against eventual North West Challenge champion and Bolton fourth seed David Phillipson.
The two closest finishes of the day in the men’s singles saw Brit Dermot Bailey put in a fine effort against Frenchman David Dalmasso before North West Challenge finalist Dalmasso progressed 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3. Meanwhile, Luca Spano edged fellow Italian Massimilano Banci after a final set tie-break 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5).
There was far less drama in the opening quad singles matches as Brits Richard Green and James Shaw and Israel’s Boaz Kramer all eased into the quarter-finals. Green will now be the first opponent of the week for top seed Andy Lapthorne, while Kramer plays second seed Antony Cotterill and Shaw faces fourth seed Anders Hard of Sweden.
16/02/12
Many of the seeded players have byes on the first day of the USN Bolton Arena Indoor.
In the men’s singles there is the possibility of fascinating last 16 match between British fourth seed David Phillipson and fourth world No. 1 ranked Frenchman Michael Jeremiasz. Should Jeremiasz come through his opening match he will face a rematch of his North West Challenge semi-final against Phillipson, which Phillipson won before lifting the title in Preston.
Reigning champion and top seed Gordon Reid will face Hungary’s Roland Nemeth or fellow Brit Ed Holt in his opening match.
In the women’s singles top seed Jordanne Whiley sopen her campaign on the first day against either Christine Schoenn of France or fellow Brit Val Fisher. Third seed Lucy Shuker, who beat Whiley in the 2013 semi-finals before finishing runner-up, will meet Diede de Groot of the Netherlands, who arrives in Bolton on the back of winning the North West Challenge on Sunday.
US Open champion and quad singles top seed Andy Lapthorne will start his bid for a first Bolton Indoor title against fellow Brit Richard Green or Sophie Fraioli of France. Meanwhile, local player and second seed Antony Cotterill will meet Israel’s Boas Kramer or Sam Schoeder of the Netherlands after their first round contest.
12/02/15
Australian Open champions Jordanne Whiley and Andy Lapthorne and fellow Grand Slam finalist Gordon Reid top the seedings and head a strong British entry for the second USN Bolton Arena Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Tournament from 17 to 21 February.
For the second successive year, over 60 players from 13 countries are due to line-up for Britain’s second UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour event of the year.
Supported by the Tennis Foundation and sponsored by TBS Sports, the ITF 2 Series USN Bolton Arena Indoor, one of nine world ranking events in Britain last season and again this year, was voted Tournament of the Year in the British Wheelchair Tennis Awards for 2014 after a highly impressive inaugural event last year.
The tournament was recognised by the Tennis Foundation for being an outstanding tournament organised to the highest standard that also attracted a high quality field in its debut year.
World No. 5 Whiley, who won her fifth successive Grand Slam doubles title in Australia last month, returns to Bolton after reaching the women’s singles semi-finals and partnering fellow Brit Lucy Shuker to win the women’s doubles last year. Following her Bolton success, Whiley went on to make history in 2014, becoming the first Brit to win a calendar year Grand Slam after partnering Japan’s Yui Kamiji to win women’s doubles at all four majors.
Whiley and world No. 10 Shuker are among three world top 10 ranked players in the women’s field this year, along with Germany’s world No. 8 Katharina Kruger.
Lapthorne and Reid, both world ranked No. 3 in their respective divisions, head the entries for the quad singles and the men’s singles. Lapthorne returns to Bolton as US Open quad singles champion and also won his fourth Australian Open quad doubles title last month.
Like Whiley, Lapthorne was a singles semi-finalist in Bolton in 2014 and his main opposition this year includes fellow Brit Antony Cotteriil, Italy’s Antonio Raffaele and Anders Hard of Sweden.
Reid, runner-up in his second Australian Open doubles final last month, will bid to try and retain his men’s singles and doubles titles in Bolton this year in a strong field that includes world No. 1 junior Alfie Hewett, men’s singles runner-up and Reid’s doubles partner in 2014, Marc McCarroll and David Phillipson among the leading Brits. Former world No. 1 Michael Jeremiasz of France and Sweden’s former world No. 2 Stefan Olsson will be among the leading opposition along with Austria’s former world No. 1 doubles player Martin Legner.
"It’s very exciting to be back at USN Bolton Arena for one of Britain’s leading world ranking events after being awarded the honour of being named Tourament of the Year for 2014,” said Tournament Director Tony Knappett. “To put on a tournament of this standard that has once again attracted a high quality British and overseas entry is a real team effort, but special mention must go to Stuart Kay, Tennis Manager at USN Bolton Arena, and his team for their support in getting this tremendous venue together.
“As well as being extremely grateful to the Tennis Foundation for the award, their ongoing support is also invaluable to the success of the tournament and I would also like to applaud the International Tennis Federation for giving us the ITF 2 Series status in just out first year in 2014.
“We are looking forward to another great ITF 2 event this year and I would encourage anyone who has never seen wheelchair tennis to come down to the arena and watch some the Grand Slam champions and Paralympic medallists we have with us in action.”
“I am delighted to be hosting such a prestige tournament again especially after the event was awarded Tournament of the Year in 2014 by the Tennis Foundation,” said Stuart Kay, Tennis Manager at USN Bolton Arena. “It is a great opportunity for the general public to come and see the world’s best playing at USN Bolton Arena.”
Entry is free for spectators and further information can be found at www.boltonindoor.org.uk.